High school basketball players from across Nassau County took to the hardwood in Uniondale on Saturday for the Jo-Jo Wright Basketball Invitational in his memory.

A tragic car crash took the life of the promising 15-year-old athlete and Uniondale High School student on Jan. 27. Joseph Wright, Jo-Jo’s father, was overwhelmed by the show of love at the tournament for his son.

“It still hurts he's not here, but it's a little bit of comfort knowing he's still loved…It's a beautiful thing,” he told News 12.

The tournament brought together many lives that Jo-Jo touched, all of whom called him a leader on and off the court.

“He was absolutely outstanding,” says Rhonda Taylor, Uniondale Schools’ acting superintendent. “When we say the word ‘scholar,’ that's who Jo-Jo was. When we say the word ‘friend,’ that's who Jo-Jo was.”

Nassau Police hosted the tournament at its new training facility. The center was constructed in Uniondale to build a partnership with the community. “We're going to learn and see things through their eyes and they're going to see it through our eyes and that message then gets out – that we understand each other and we can better police our communities with respect for all of our communities,” says Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.

Money raised during the event went toward the Uniondale High School Scholarship Fund. The fund received a $10,000 donation from several groups, including the Nassau County Police Department Foundation, the PBA and Bolla Charity Foundation.